As the State Bar begins to tackle 7,000 warehoused complaints against its
members, early indications are that it will pursue far fewer cases than in the past,
focusing almost exclusively on the most serious matters.

With significantly reduced
funding and staffing levels far below what they were in the discipline system's heyday,
the bar simply can't do what it did before Gov. Pete Wilson vetoed its dues bill in
October 1997, a move which ultimately led to the near total shutdown of efforts to police
California attorneys.

On the other hand, a
revamped system which established priorities and created teams of prosecutors and
investigators will likely crack down on the most serious offenders even faster while
removing lesser misconduct from the system almost completely.

"We've raised the bar as to what we'll send to enforcement," said Paul Virgo,
assistant chief trial counsel in charge of the discipline system's intake unit. "We
have fewer but better cases to investigate and prosecute.

"The downside is we don't have the ability to do minor misconduct matters."

New priorities

Under a new system adopted by the board of governors in February, the bar prioritizes
cases based on the seriousness of the misconduct, with

Although interest rates on client trust accounts have rebounded slightly
in recent years, a drop in the rates in December signals a possible reduction in grants to
legal services programs in California next year.

As a result, the State Bar's Legal
Services Trust Fund Commission has begun to pressure banks to increase interest rates on
those interest-bearing accounts.

"Banks have a sound business reason to pay a higher rate," said Judy Garlow,
director of the bar's trust

Continuing education requirements for California attorneys would be
reduced by about one-third under a bill introduced last month to fund the State Bar.

SB
144, by Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, also sets dues at $395 for all attorneys, imposes no
subject matter restrictions on bar lobbying and technical assistance, and offers a
hardship fee for lawyers whose incomes do not meet a minimum level. In addition, the
measure boosts to $4 the amount attorneys may deduct from their mandatory dues to fund
advocacy outside the parameters of the Keller decision.

State Bar President Raymond C. Marshall said he was "extremely pleased" with
the Schiff bill, which he and other bar officials have been negotiating for months.

"It should garner partisan support because it really addresses all the issues and
concerns which have been raised over the last two years regarding the bar being more
streamlined and responsive to our members," Marshall said.